Castle Tower visit ‘a positive step’ towards new school - Storey

That was the view of North Antrim DUP MLA and chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee, Mervyn Storey who joined the Minister on his tour of the current facilities.

“I was pleased that the Education Minister accepted an invitation that I had extended to him some time ago to visit Castle Tower School Ballymena. To say that the accommodation, spread over the three campuses, is highly inappropriate to meet the diverse needs of the young people attending the school would be an understatement,” said Mr Storey.

Castle Tower currently provides education and care for some 262 pupils ranging in age from three to 19 years and in ability from pupils who are capable of gaining GCSE qualifications in some subjects to young people with the most profound difficulties and complex needs.

“Many of the pupils are wheelchair users or have restricted mobility alongside their learning difficulties. Some of the mobile classrooms do not have the appropriate disabled access,” said Mr Storey.

“It would be true to say that the staff at the school are dealing with the most vulnerable young people in our society in one of the worst educational environments in Northern Ireland”.

Mr Storey pointed out that despite the challenging environment for the staff, pupils and parents, a recent inspection report stated that 95% of the lessons observed were rated “Good to outstanding” and added that the same report also commented on how the environment had a very negative impact on the pupils’ learning.

“I was able, along with the Chairman of the Board Of Governors Rev Robert Coulter, acting Principal and other members of staff to show the Minister the particular needs of the school and the excellent work that is carried out by the staff and all involved with the school.

“I am encouraged by the positive engagement of the Minister regarding this issue and I believe that the visit was a positive step forward to securing a much needed new build for Castle Tower,” said Mr Storey who commended Chairman Rev Coulter, principal and staff for all their hard work.

“Castle Tower has a highly skilled and professional staff and along with the pupils deserve modern accommodation,” he said.

Also welcoming last week’s Ministerial visit, North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay said: “I have raised the issue of Castle Tower school with the Education Minister on a number of occasions and I very much welcome the fact that he has gone out to see for himself the state of the buildings and to speak to the children, parents and teachers associated with the school.

“This school accommodates pupils from a wide geographical area and even though the Minister indicated in his statement that he will be setting out new criteria for capital investment I believe that this is still as clear a case of need that you are going to see.

“Castle Tower is an excellent school for all its pupils and we need to see capital build that matches the quality of the teachers and other staff that work here. I intend to continue to raise this with the Education Minister and hope to see progress on the matter. There is clearly urgent work to be done here,” he said.